Joavan arrested in front of Talisay mayor’s house

Policemen  finally caught up with Joavan Fernandez on the doorstep of  the house of his father,  Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Three weeks after Joavan  was the subject of a manhunt for allegedly shooting a watch man outside a car  shop in Talisay,   he was spotted last night sitting on a curb outside his father’s house in Southgate Subdivision, barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.

The young Fernandez had just arrived on a motorbike with a female companion, said police.

He did not resist arrest after lawmen led by Supt. Elmer Lim, Talisay  chief of police, served a bench warrant ordering Joavan’s  arrest for a previous case of slight physical injuries.

The warrant was issued by Judge Mario Manayon of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

The controversial son of the mayor, who has been in and out of jail for various offenses,  has been the subject of a manhunt after he was charged with frustrated murder before the Talisay City Prosecutor Office.

He was  accused of shooting 36-year-old  Eduardo Largo Jr.,  a watchman and brother of the shop owner, last  April 12, a Friday.

The mayor had assured Talisay police he would  turn over his son on Monday, only to change his mind, saying he would wait for a court warrant.

The mayor maintained that his son is innocent and that he will no longer surrender him to authorities.

Under surveillance

Police said they had  placed the mayor’s residence in Southgate Subdivision under surveillance.

SPO1 Mike Espina said police noticed Joavan entering the village.

The arresting team was positioned near the house and closed in when Joavan, together with a female companion identified only as Gay-gay, arrived in a motorcycle at around 7 p.m.

Two female police decoys who posed as insurance agents circled the house and gave the arresting team the green light after positively identifying Joavan who was sitting on the curb in front of the mayor’s house.

Supt. Lim drove his car and stopped in front of Joavan and showed him the bench warrant before effecting his arrest.

Police said they seized a revolver with several rounds of bullets, a fragmentation grenade, two lighters and foil with cigarettes.

The police will file a complaint for illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the election gun ban against Joavan.

Joavan refused to show himself in the jail when reporters arrived.  He stayed deep inside a cell and would only speak aloud when asked questions.

In an interview, Joavan  said the gun, grenade and other items were  “planted” by the police.

He also claimed that Supt. Lim hit him three times in the face while they were riding in his car.

A  slight commotion ensued at the police station where Joavan was taken after a man identified as a companion of Mayor Fernandez tried to block Cebu Daily News photographer Lito Tecson from entering the detention center.

“Dili pwede mosulod diri (No one is allowed to enter),” the man said as he tried to shut the door.

Mayor Fernandez, who was already inside, also  accosted the CDN photographer.

“Nganong wala man ka mananghid na ma-micture ka nako?” (Why were you taking my picture without asking my permission?)

The mayor then took a closer look at Tecson’s press I.D. card and tried to grab his camera.

“Ayaw pag-ingon ana, mayor kay dili man imo ning camera,” the photojournalist said. (Don’t do that, mayor. You don’t own this camera.)

Mayor Fernandez then threatened to file a complaint  before the Commission Human Rights.

“Ireklamo ta ka sa Human Rights,” he said. /Gabriel Bonjoc, Correspondent